Diva, a 3-year-old poodle mix, may look a little on the wild side with her not-so-flattering dye job, but underneath the crazy colors there is an incredibly sweet, affectionate and loyal soul who will make the perfect forever friend and caring companion.

Diva was pulled out of an overcrowded shelter on the day that she was scheduled to lose her life. Because she was encased in matted fur that didn't even allow for her to see or walk properly, she was taken straight to a groomer before being brought up to her new life in Santa Cruz.

We assume that with Halloween coming up, the groomer was inspired to have a little more fun than usual and after using dog-safe organic dye, Diva emerged with a truly "terrifying" new look. This look consisted of an orange jack-o-lantern chest, green ears, purple feet and tail tip, and smiley faces on each side of her rear.

When she arrived at our shelter we were certainly taken aback and her peculiar appearance has had the same effect on potential adopters. Unfortunately, her "look," which is indeed only temporary, has caused many people to pass over one of the sweetest and most adoptable dogs in our care.

The true Diva is an absolute sweetheart who desperately seeks a human to love and be close to. She follows staff members around the office, immediately greets shelter visitors with kisses and cuddles, and is the first one in line when it is time for a walk or a volunteer-led trip to the beach.

Recently, Diva went home with a volunteer for a few nights and proved herself to be a very well-behaved house guest and quickly won the hearts of both the volunteer and her own dog. Diva does great with other dogs both large and small, however, she doesn't seem to appreciate the company of cats.

When the colors fade away or are shaved off, Diva will be pure white, and because of her breed she is considered hypo-allergenic and non-shedding. She is a very desirable small/medium size and weighs around 25 pounds. She is not an overly active girl but is also not a wallflower, so we hope to see her in a semi-active home where she will have a human (or more than one) to take her out into the world and show her the sites.

This girl has the personality, temperament, and physical ability that so many people seek. Can you look past the awkward appearance and see Divas true colors?

Call the Santa Cruz SPCA at 465-5000, or visit www.santacruzspca.org. The SPCA, at 2685 Chanticleer Ave., is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The SPCA Mall Adoption Center and Gift Shop at the Capitola Mall near Target is open on Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The SPCA's adoption package for dogs and cats includes spay/neuter, vaccinations, micro-chipping, an ID tag, collar, a free vet exam, one month's free health insurance and other animal care materials.

Consider donating to the nonprofit Santa Cruz SPCA, which receives no government funding.